Petunia plant named ‘Flortunpemo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Flortunpemo’, characterized by its salmon and white bi-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact, semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Flortunpemo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Flortunpemo’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Quedlinburg, Germany during August 2009. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars with single-type flowers, unique flower coloration and patterns, and compact, semi-upright growth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection coded 273A-4, not patented, characterized by its medium orange and white bi-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection coded 280-2, not patented, characterized by its medium red and white bi-colored flowers, light green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2010 in a controlled environment in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2010 in Quedlinburg, Germany; Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Flortunpemo’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Salmon and white bi-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Compact, semi-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in flower color. In addition the new cultivar has darker green foliage color and is more compact than the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is POTUNIA Plus Papaya ‘Duepotpaya’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,910. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Duepotpaya’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color pattern         different from plants of ‘Duepotpaya’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Duepotpaya’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Flortunpemo’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Flortunpemo’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Flortunpemo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Flortunpemo. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding             selection coded 273A-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection             coded 280-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low growth vigor,             compact, semi-upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.5 cm. Width: Approximately 46.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 28.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 20. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate to             elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             4.7 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper             surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of 146D to             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young foliage:             Closest to 138B with venation of 145A to indistinguishable.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: N137C with             venation of 146D to indistinguishable. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation of             145B to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately             4.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Flortunpemo’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 21. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 13.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             9.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of petals: 24D. Color of tube: 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 7.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute to emarginate.             Length from tube: Approximately 3.5 cm. Length of free             portion: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 cm.             Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface when first open: Outer             marginal ring of approximately 1.0 cm in length of 39A,             flower center NN155B tinted with 39C and 2B at throat             opening, midveins of 145A, venation near throat opening of             166B. Color of lower surface when first open: Outer marginal             ring of approximately 1.0 cm in length of 39C transitions to             NN155B with a faint tint of 39D toward corolla tube,             midveins of 145A. Color of upper surface when fully open:             Outer marginal ring of approximately 1.5 cm in length of             39A, flower center NN155B tinted with 39C and145C at throat             opening, midveins of 152A, and venation near throat opening             of 166B with 39A. Under low light growing conditions             marginally ring can be 62A to 62B. Color of lower surface             when fully open: Outer marginal ring of approximately 1.5 cm             in length of 39D transitioning to NN155B with a faint tint             of 39D toward corolla tube, midveins of 145A. Under low             light growing conditions marginally ring can be 62D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless. Color of inner surface: NN155B with             venation of 166B and 145A. Color of outer surface: NN155B             with a faint tint of 39D, venation of 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Broadly acute. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm.             Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower             surface: 137B transitioning to 144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 2.9 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament             color: NN155D. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8D. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity:             1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 144A. Style length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Style             color: 145B. Ovary length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Flortunpemo’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 